Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Thursday 25 November 1999

Scottish Executive

Access to Information

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether documents issued for consultation by the Scottish Executive and its agencies are advertised and made available in languages other than English to ensure that minority groups in Scotland are allowed equality of access to the consultation process.

Jackie Baillie: Printed information material is regularly made available in minority languages, Braille, large print and audiotape. The most recent was the Social Justice Strategy published on 22 November. The availability of minority languages and other formats is publicised on the cover of the English version. Wider publicity for consultation documents is generally generated through ministerial media launches rather than through paid publicity.

  The Scottish Executive adheres to the Disability Discrimination Act Code of Practice and all our material is printed in a minimum of 12 point. All consultation and strategy publications are placed on the Scottish Executive web site as a matter of course. Departments are also advised to consider other ways of consulting with ethnic groups such as through face-to-face discussions.

Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning testing procedures to ensure that they conform with other European Union member states in the interpretation of the relevant EU guidelines.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive ensures that testing procedures for ASP are carried out in accordance with EC Directive 97/61. It is for the EU to ensure compliance with EC Directives in other Member States.

Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to conduct a comprehensive review of its policy and procedures in relation to amnesic shellfish poisoning.

Susan Deacon: The statutory marine biotoxin monitoring programme which includes the monitoring of amnesic shellfish poisoning is comprehensively reviewed at the end of each year.

Community Care

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would consider redrafting its guidance on the Carers Act and, if not, whether it would consider amending existing legislation to entitle carers under the age of 16 years to request an assessment of their needs.

Iain Gray: In response to a question yesterday, I made available to Parliament the Scottish Executive’s Carers’ Strategy for Scotland, a package of measures aimed at supporting the many informal carers in our communities who look after friends or relatives who are frail, sick, disabled or vulnerable. The Strategy contains a commitment to draw up legislative proposals at an early date that will enable carers to have their needs met more directly than can be done at present. In doing so, we will ensure that carers aged under 16 will be entitled to an assessment of their care needs and will be able to receive support in their own right.

  The Strategy is scheduled for debate today.

Concordats

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish further bilateral concordats between departments of Her Majesty’s Government and UK agencies and their counterparts or contacts in the Scottish Executive.

Mr Tom McCabe: The following bilateral Concordats are being published today:

  Health and Safety Executive

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Office for National Statistics

  Department of Culture, Media and Sport

  A Concordat will also be published today covering Public Procurement.

  The texts have been made available to the Parliament and are available in the Document Supply Centre and on the Executive’s web site.

Domestic Violence

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a maximum limit on the amount allocated to any project funded from the Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund.

Jackie Baillie: Bidding guidance has yet to be developed but it is likely that there will be a maximum grant.

Domestic Violence

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the additional resources available from the Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund will be allocated to local authorities and their partners by means of a formula used to apportion shares or on a first come, first served basis.

Jackie Baillie: All bids will be considered in accordance with the bidding guidance and grants will be made for those projects which best fulfil the aim of developing multi-agency working to improve local service provision.

Domestic Violence

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when local authorities and their partners can expect to be given a decision on their proposals and begin to receive funding from the Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund.

Jackie Baillie: Funding will be available from 1 April 2000. Decisions on specific applications are expected to be announced in March 2000.

Domestic Violence

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assurance can be given to projects beyond the two year funding timeframe of the Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund announced by the Deputy Minister for Communities on 27 October 1999.

Jackie Baillie: Bids will be expected to offer a high degree of sustainability to carry them beyond the initial funding package.

Domestic Violence

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to increase the funding available from the Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund to the level recommended by Scottish Women’s Aid.

Jackie Baillie: The Scottish Executive has put together the best package possible given the availability of finance.

Environment

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to bring within the planning control of local authorities the erection of telecommunication masts not exceeding 15 metres in height.

Sarah Boyack: The erection of telecommunications masts require planning permission except where they qualify for permitted development rights under Class 67 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992.

  In December 1998, the then Scottish Office Planning Minister, Calum MacDonald MP, announced a number of measures on telecommunications, which included increasing the degree of control over telecommunications development permitted by the aforementioned Order. Those measures included:

  prior approval procedures for the siting and appearance of telecommunications masts;

  increased controls over telecommunications development in Sites of Special Scientific Interest;

  clarification that planning permission is required to extend the height of an existing mast beyond 15 metres;

  good practice guidance for operators and planning authorities; and

  advice on the use of planning agreements to encourage mast sharing.

  The Scottish Executive hopes to bring forward legislation implementing these proposals in due course.

Environment

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will discuss with local authorities the influence which the provision of differing levels of beach facilities has on the number of beaches which pass the various beach surveys.

Sarah Boyack: There are a number of beach survey schemes which are used to convey the standards of beaches to the public. Among these are the European Blue Flag and the Seaside Award, both of which are co-ordinated by Keep Scotland Beautiful. The Marine Conservation Society also publishes the Good Beach Guide.

  We are committed to improving Scotland’s beaches and have had initial discussions with relevant parties. My officials plan further discussions involving local authority representatives and the organisations mentioned above. These discussions can be used to inform local authorities on the various requirements of organisations.

Environment

Ms Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take following the publication of Greater Glasgow Health Board’s health report into the Paterson’s landfill site at Mount Vernon.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: The Scottish Executive is aware of the Greater Glasgow Health Board Report and of public concerns about the health of communities living close to this landfill site. I understand that the report established no causal links between ill health and Paterson’s landfill. The Greater Glasgow Health Board Report may be obtained on request from the Board. The UK Government and the Scottish Executive are funding a study into possible health effects in populations living in the vicinity of landfill sites. It is anticipated that the results of this study will be available by the middle of 2000.

Farming

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to prevent the growing number of incidents of tuberculosis amongst badgers in the North of England spreading into Scotland, with possible serious consequences for our dairy herd.

Ross Finnie: We have no evidence of a growing number of incidents of TB in badgers in the north-east of England. There has, indeed, never been a TB outbreak in cattle herds in Scotland which could be associated with TB infection in badgers.

Finance

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any circumstances under which local authorities have an obligation to provide core funding to voluntary groups which are providing a service not supplied by the local authority itself.

Mr Jack McConnell: I am not aware of any legal obligations of this sort. It is a matter for local authorities themselves to decide on local funding priorities and whether or not to fund voluntary groups.

Finance

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what is the source of the increased budget of £309 million announced in the Finance Minister’s recent statement, and if this is the result of an underspend from the previous year, why there has not been a concomitant decrease in the previous year’s figures.

Mr Jack McConnell: The total increase in the Scottish Budget for 1999-2000, which I announced on 6 October was £317 million. This includes the increase in provision for the Scottish Parliament.

  The source of the increase was the take-up of underspends from 1998-99, under the end-year flexibility arrangements, of £312 million and net transfers between the Scottish Executive and other UK Departments of £5 million.

  The figure quoted for 1998-99 is an estimated outturn figure. Actual outturn figures for 1998-99 will not be confirmed until the Appropriation Accounts for that year have been approved and published by the Comptroller and Auditor General. This normally takes place in February following the end of the financial year.

Finance

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which Scottish based banks were invited to tender to the Scottish Executive in connection with the development and provision of its Government Procurement Card.

Mr Jack McConnell: In October 1998, The Scottish Office invited Government Procurement Card (GPC) service proposals from the banks included in a UK framework arrangement. The banks in question were Barclays Bank, Midland Bank, National Westminster Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank. Following rigorous evaluation, Barclays Bank was selected. Neither the Bank of Scotland nor Clydesdale Bank participated in the UK framework arrangement; I understand that this is because they do not at present provide corporate procurement card services. A subsequent pilot exercise confirmed that the service was satisfactory, and the scheme has now been made available to the entire Scottish Executive.

Finance

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will (a) describe the term "accruing resources" as specified in its proposed amendment No.6 to the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Bill and (b) list the description and amount of resources covered by this type in each year for which figures are available in constant prices.

Mr Jack McConnell: This term has been selected to encompass all resources which may accrue to the Scottish Ministers (and other directly funded bodies) in the course of a year.

  As the Executive is moving from a cash to resource accounting regime, numbers for previous years on a resource accounting basis are not available. Information on the expected receipts of affected bodies for 1999-2000 can be found in Scotland’s Supply Estimates and Scotland’s Autumn Supplementary Supply Estimates.

Gaelic

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it is making to Her Majesty’s Government, following the recent publication of What everyone should know about the Millennium bug , which was produced in a number of languages including Welsh, but not in Scottish Gaelic.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: Government Departments have discretion as to whether they produce public documents in Gaelic. We encourage the production of Gaelic versions of documents which have a clear focus on the Gaelic community.

Health

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that staff, trade unions, and people living in the vicinity of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital are consulted before any changes are made in the criteria for the assessment and admission of patients to the new medium security unit.

Susan Deacon: The Royal Edinburgh Hospital provides highly specialised care and treatment for people with a range of problems related to mental illness and learning disabilities. The replacement forensic psychiatry unit currently being developed at the hospital will continue to provide care and treatment for people with severe mental illness which has brought them into contact with the criminal justice system: the aim is to provide a better therapeutic environment for the care of these patients in a building which has appropriate physical security.

  Decisions on the most appropriate care for individual patients is best made by clinicians and staff involved in the treatment of the individual. The assessment and admission of patients to the facility being developed at the hospital is therefore a clinical matter. I understand, however, that the Lothian Primary Care NHS Trust consulted locally about the new unit and its role prior to its development.

Health

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which fixed assets are to be disposed of this year to realise a profit of £6.4 million, and what fixed assets are being disposed of at a loss of £8.3 million in 2001-02, as set out in appendix 1 of the Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust – Trust Implementation Plan (1999-2004) .

Susan Deacon: Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust, with the support of Tayside Health Board, has proposed the disposal of the following Trust assets which are no longer required to support the delivery of modern healthcare services. These disposals will result in a technical profit or a loss as proceeds received from their sale differ from the value of the asset within the Trust’s ledgers.

  Profit/(Loss) on Planned Disposals

  

 

1999-00
  £000 


2000-01
  £000 


2001-02
  £000 




Ninewells Residences 
  

(177) 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Medipark 
  

(267) 
  

- 
  

(465) 
  



Ninewells Land 
  

2,360 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Dundee Limb Fitting Centre 
  

160 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Fairies Road, Perth 
  

495 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Kings Cross 
  

- 
  

- 
  

59 
  



Total 
  

2,571 
  

- 
  

(406) 
  



  Following presentation of the Trust Implementation Plan, these amounts have been amended to reflect the outcome of the National Revaluation exercise. No disposals have been planned for 2000-01.

Health

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust – Trust Implementation Plan (1999-2004) , what severe financial pressures were inherited by the Trust; what financial pressures were inherited from the former Angus NHS Trust; Perth & Kinross NHS Trust and Dundee Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, what service developments will require to be deferred, and how will patient care provision will be effected.

Susan Deacon: Whilst each of the former Tayside Trusts achieved financial balance in 1998-99, this required the utilisation of non-recurring funds to support their year-end position. Non-recurring funds were received from Tayside Health Board and from proceeds from the sale of surplus assets. By their very nature, non-recurring funds are not available in the current year, although the corresponding expenditure can be ongoing, leaving the University Trust exposed to a potential gap.

  The impact on Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust of the loss of non-recurring funds is attributable to the former Trusts as follows:-

  


Dundee Teaching 
  

£1,944,000 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

£488,000 
  



Angus 
  

£470,000 
  



Total 
  

£2,902,000 
  



  In addition to these pressures, a shortfall in cash releasing savings during 1998-99 has contributed a further £2 million to current projected difficulties. These amounts cannot be attributed to specific Trusts but rather they reflect issues with services across Tayside.

  The Trust and Tayside Health Board are working jointly on measures to remedy the position. In the current financial year, the Scottish Executive has committed over £388 million to Tayside, 4.25% more than last year. I look to the Trust and Health Board to ensure that a financial balance is achieved over the year as a whole, and that service developments as identified in the Tayside Health Improvement Plan are delivered.

  We will continue to monitor the situation.

Health

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to detail capital expenditure at Stracathro Hospital, Angus over the last 10 years.

Susan Deacon: The table below presents capital expenditure at Stracathro Hospital for each year from 1990-91 to 1999-2000. This expenditure was largely funded from a formula-based capital allocation that allows NHS Trusts to direct resources to a range of prioritised projects including health and safety, estate maintenance and refurbishment schemes.

  Capital Expenditure at Stracathro Hospital: 1990-91 to 1999-2000

 Year£000  1990-91   286 1991-92   258 1992-93   48 1993-94   20 1994-95   861 1995-96   982 1996-97   815 1997-98   987 1998-99   556 1999-2000*   85* Total   4,820   

  * Forecast only

  Expenditure in the current financial year will be managed by Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Health

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much capital expenditure there has been at Brechin Infirmary, Arbroath Infirmary, Forfar Infirmary, and Montrose Royal Infirmary, Angus, over the past five years.

Susan Deacon: The table below presents capital expenditure at the identified sites for each of the years from 1995-96 to 1999-2000. This expenditure was largely funded from a formula-based capital allocation that allows NHS Trusts to direct resources to a range of prioritised projects including health and safety, estate maintenance and refurbishment schemes.

  Capital Expenditure: 1995-96 to 1999-2000

  


Year 


Brechin Infirmary
  £000 


Arbroath Infirmary
  £000 


Forfar Infirmary
  £000 


Montrose Infirmary
  £000 


Total
  £000 




1995-96 
  

0 
  

119 
  

0 
  

181 
  

300 
  



1996-97 
  

24 
  

60 
  

6 
  

17 
  

107 
  



1997-98 
  

0 
  

277 
  

58 
  

8 
  

343 
  



1998-99 
  

149 
  

175 
  

213 
  

5 
  

542 
  



1999-2000* 
  

11 
  

703 
  

20 
  

37 
  

771* 
  



Total 
  

184 
  

1,334 
  

297 
  

248 
  

2,063 
  



  * Forecast only

  Expenditure in the current financial year will be managed by Tayside Primary Care NHS Trust.

Health

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what capital investment will be made by Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust and Tayside Primary Care NHS Trust in Angus in the current financial year.

Susan Deacon: I would refer Mr Welsh to my answer to his question numbers S1W-1842 and S1W-1844 which detail the extent of planned capital investment across a number of specified sites in Angus in the current financial year. In addition to these planned investments, a further three sites will benefit from capital investment, as well as a range of minor schemes that will benefit sites across Angus. The table summarises current capital investment plans:-

   1999-2000 Forecast £000 Arbroath Infirmary   703 Brechin Infirmary   11 Carnoustie Health Centre   8 Forfar Infirmary   20 Little Cairney   112 Montrose   37 Sunnyside   70 Stracathro   85 Angus Wide Minor Schemes   117 Total   1,163

Health

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that hospitals fulfil their duty to ensure that palliative care is delivered to a high quality in hospital settings.

Susan Deacon: Where appropriate, palliative care should be an integral part of the care patients receive in hospital. In order to ensure the highest quality of care is available, each Health Board has developed a palliative care strategy and, to date, 31 hospitals in Scotland have set up either specialist palliative care teams or palliative care support nurses.

  The Clinical Standards Board for Scotland is currently considering how it might improve standard setting for a range of conditions, including cancer. It has embarked on a consultation process involving GPs, hospital clinicians and other professions to try to establish clear standards for care of the major cancers in Scotland. As part of that exercise, it will consider standards of palliative care.

  In addition, the Scottish Executive Health Department is encouraging the development of a Managed Clinical Network in palliative care, with particular reference to pain relief, and has also provided £7,000 towards the cost of distributing over 30,000 copies of a booklet on The Relief of Pain and Related Symptoms: The Role of Drug Therapy produced by the Scottish Partnership Agency for Palliative and Cancer Care as an aid for general practitioners, hospital doctors and other members of the hospital care team.

Health

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether payments from the Irish Government for ECMO treatment carried out at Yorkhill Children’s Hospital will now come directly to Greater Glasgow Health Board, rather than being retained by the Department of Health.

Susan Deacon: This is a reserved matter. Payments made by overseas Governments in this regard are paid direct to the Westminster Consolidated Fund.

  The cost to each health board area of care provided under the negotiated reciprocal health care agreements is recognised within the total resources allocated to each health board each year.

Health

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will comment on the outcome of the meeting on 1 November 1999 between the Reference Laboratory Working Group and representatives of Grampian Universities Hospitals NHS Trust.

Susan Deacon: The meeting on 1 November between the Reference Laboratory Working Group and the Director of the Aberdeen Reference Laboratories and the Chief Executive of Grampian University Hospitals Acute NHS Trust allowed a detailed discussion to take place on the reasons which had led the Working Group to recommend non-renewal of the agreements with the Aberdeen laboratories for the E.coli O157 and campylobacter services.

  The Scottish Executive Health Department is writing to the Director and Chief Executive about the management of these services between now and the end of March 2000. They will also be given the opportunity of commenting on the note of the meeting.

Health

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of a current national recruitment problem of medical laboratory scientific officer staff and, if so, what measures are being taken to rectify it.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive Health Department, is aware that there may be some recruitment issues concerning Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers (MLSOs) and has established a Working Group to examine the position in depth as it affects all the laboratory disciplines across Scotland. The Working Group is chaired by Mr T H Cavanagh, Laboratory Manager, Haematology Department, Western Infirmary, Glasgow and includes representatives from professional organisations and trade unions who have a specific interest in this issue. The Group will prepare a report on its findings which will be presented to the Scottish Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee next year.

Health

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1829 by Susan Deacon on 29 October 1999, whether the advisory committee on the microbiological safety of food recognises the value of continued work on campylobacter.

Susan Deacon: The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food recognises the importance of campylobacter as a public health issue, given that it is the commonest cause of gastro-intestinal infection in the UK. The Committee also shares the general view that the main priority is further research to identify a more discriminatory typing scheme, by which is meant one yielding information of value in clinical and public health terms.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS trusts have turned down offers of major diagnostic equipment such as CT scanners due to a lack of future funding and what action it intends to take where this situation has occurred.

Susan Deacon: I am only aware of one NHS Trust, which has turned down the offer of a CT scanner from the private sector due to the annual revenue costs associated with the equipment. It is for individual NHS Trusts to determine local priorities and how they should be addressed.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to routinely invite women aged 65 and over for breast screening and, if not, why not.

Susan Deacon: I refer the Member to the answer given to question S1W-2173.

Health

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many domiciliary visits were conducted by (a) community psychiatric nurses and (b) psychiatric consultants in each Health Board area in each financial year from 1993-94 to date.

Susan Deacon: The information requested is not available centrally.

Health

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many community psychiatric nurses and psychiatric consultants were employed within each Health Board area in each financial year from 1993-94 to date.

Susan Deacon: The central source for data on psychiatric nursing staff does not allow accurate identification of community psychiatric nurses. The information requested on the number of psychiatric consultants is shown in the attached tables.

  Table: Psychiatric consultants (1) employed by NHS Trusts

  Distribution by health board areas: as at 30 September 1993-98 Whole time equivalents

  






1993 


1994 


1995 


1996 


1997 


1998 




Argyll & Clyde 
  

22.9 
  

19.4 
  

21.9 
  

23.5 
  

26.7 
  

28.9 
  



Ayrshire & Arran 
  

11.0 
  

9.8 
  

8.8 
  

9.8 
  

10.7 
  

12.2 
  



Borders 
  

5.0 
  

5.0 
  

5.7 
  

6.2 
  

6.4 
  

6.4 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

8.4 
  

8.4 
  

8.0 
  

8.0 
  

8.0 
  

7.0 
  



Fife 
  

12.0 
  

14.0 
  

14.0 
  

11.4 
  

11.9 
  

14.4 
  



Forth Valley 
  

11.0 
  

12.0 
  

13.4 
  

14.4 
  

15.8 
  

17.4 
  



Grampian 
  

29.5 
  

30.0 
  

22.0 
  

30.5 
  

30.1 
  

34.2 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

52.3 
  

55.2  
  

63.7 
  

61.5 
  

66.9 
  

69.7 
  



Highland 
  

10.0 
  

10.0 
  

9.6 
  

8.2 
  

9.3 
  

10.3 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

17.0  
  

17.5 
  

17.1 
  

16.0 
  

18.0 
  

22.6 
  



Lothian 
  

42.5 
  

43.4 
  

45.2 
  

46.2 
  

48.7 
  

46.2 
  



Orkney 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Shetland 
  

1.0 
  

- 
  

1.0 
  

1.0 
  

1.0 
  

1.0 
  



Tayside 
  

25.6 
  

24.9 
  

25.4 
  

25.9 
  

26.4 
  

29.7 
  



Western Isles 
  

1.0 
  

1.0 
  

1.0 
  

1.0 
  

1.0 
  

2.0 
  



  Number (2)

  

 

1993 


1994 


1995 


1996 


1997 


1998 




Argyll & Clyde 
  

25 
  

21 
  

24 
  

27 
  

30 
  

34 
  



Ayrshire & Arran 
  

12 
  

11 
  

10 
  

11 
  

12 
  

13 
  



Borders 
  

5 
  

5 
  

6 
  

7 
  

8 
  

9 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

9 
  

9 
  

9 
  

9 
  

9 
  

9 
  



Fife 
  

12 
  

14 
  

14 
  

12 
  

13 
  

15 
  



Forth Valley 
  

11 
  

12 
  

14 
  

15 
  

17 
  

19 
  



Grampian 
  

32 
  

33 
  

29 
  

32 
  

32 
  

37 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

58 
  

61 
  

70 
  

67 
  

73 
  

76 
  



Highland 
  

10 
  

10 
  

10 
  

9 
  

10 
  

11 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

17 
  

19 
  

18 
  

16 
  

18 
  

23 
  



Lothian 
  

46 
  

47 
  

50 
  

51 
  

52 
  

48 
  



Orkney 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Shetland 
  

1 
  

- 
  

1  
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  



Tayside 
  

28 
  

27 
  

28 
  

28 
  

28 
  

32 
  



Western Isles 
  

1  
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  

2 
  



  Source: Medical and Dental Census ISD Scotland Ad hoc: 1999-2005.

  Notes:

  

Includes specialties 
  – child and adolescent psychiatry, general psychiatry, forensic 
  psychiatry, old age psychiatry, community psychiatry, psychotherapy.


There is an 
  element of double counting of heads where a consultant may hold 
  a contract in more than one Health Board

Health

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many senior managers have taken early retirement or have had their contracts terminated in each Health Board area in each financial year from 1993-94 to date.

Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally.

Health

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to ensure that National Health Service dental treatment is available to all sections of Scottish society.

Susan Deacon: A number of measures are already in place to extend availability to NHS dental services in Scotland.

Health

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that travellers have appropriate access to primary health care services.

Susan Deacon: A number of initiatives are already in place to improve access to primary health care services by disadvantaged groups.

Industry

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to promote boat building, particularly the building of fishing vessels, and to ensure the survival of the remaining shipyards in Scotland.

Henry McLeish: Action to assist shipbuilders in the UK is being developed through a UK-wide Shipbuilding Forum chaired by the Department of Trade and Industry, and in consultation with industry and trade union representatives. The Scottish Executive is represented at this Forum. Improvements have already been made in support for the mortgage financing of new vessels, and the industry is also being provided with support to help enhance its competitiveness through benchmarking audits.

  The Scottish Executive chairs a Scottish Shipbuilding Forum consisting of industry, trade union and public sector organisations which help ensure that specific Scottish considerations are fed into the UK Forum.

Industry

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding any difficulties faced by Scottish coal producers wishing to move coal by rail and what action it has taken in response to these representations.

Henry McLeish: The Executive has received representations from Scottish Coal about the service offered by English, Welsh and Scottish (EWS) Railways. This matter is also the subject of a complaint to the Office of the Rail Regulator. This is a reserved issue being handled by the Scotland Office, with whom the Executive is in close contact.

Industry

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take to support the coal industry in Scotland with specific reference to the transportation of coal by rail.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: Officials of the Scottish Executive have met with EWS to discuss questions about the transportation of coal. Coal and rail transport are both of course reserved matters and we are in close touch with The Scotland Office, DTI and DETR about what is being done to help resolve Scottish Coal’s problems.

Justice

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2019 by Donald Dewar on 29 October 1999, what recruiting methods were adopted to produce nominations and applications for the position of Justice of the Peace on the Island of Barra, what advertising took place in the local press and what local interest groups were invited to make nominations.

Donald Dewar: The Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee per Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is not actively recruiting JPs for Barra at present. The Secretary of the JPAC has informed my Department that, in May, the Chairman invited members of the Committee to draw his attention to any suitable candidates for consideration for appointment of whom they became aware.

Justice

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many warrants allowing the interception of communications in Scotland were issued in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999.

Mr Jim Wallace: The annual reports of the Commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 list the number of interception warrants issued in Scotland in the course of each year. In 1997 256 warrants were issued. In 1998 the number was 268. During the period 1 January to 30 June this year 162 warrants were issued.

Local Government

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action, if any, it proposes to take against Stirling council which, at its meeting on the 7 October 1999, acted against the advice of its Monitoring Officer and beyond its legal competence by co-opting individuals disqualified under Part III of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Mr Frank McAveety: Stirling council is free, as any council is, to adopt its own policies, provided they are within the law. We have asked the council to give us a full account of the council’s practice in regard to co-option to committees, in relation to the relevant statutory requirements.

MSPs

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to allow MSPs to meet with Scottish Trade International without going through the office of the Minister for Lifelong Learning and Enterprise.

Donald Dewar: As the Civil Service Code applies to officials of Scottish Trade International, requests for contact should go through the Office of the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning. This is in accordance with the procedure relating to all officials to whom the Code applies.

Minimum Wage

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to assist voluntary organisations such as the National Schizophrenia Foundation to pay the national minimum wage for therapeutic earnings by patients.

Henry McLeish: The Low Pay Commission has been asked to monitor and evaluate the impact of the introduction of the national minimum wage and is due to report to the UK Government next month. The Scottish Executive will examine its recommendations.

Planning

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the local authorities in Scotland which have submitted structure plans for approval since 1 April 1996 and the structure plans that have been approved during the same period.

Sarah Boyack: Since 1 April 1996 three Structure Plan Authorities have submitted Plans for approval. These are The Moray Council in December 1998, Dumfries and Galloway Council in January 1999 and the Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan Authority in March 1999. The Moray Structure Plan was approved subject to modifications on 12 November and the others are currently under consideration.

Planning

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive to detail for each local authority in Scotland the local plans which (a) are currently being prepared, (b) have been issued for local consultation, (c) have been submitted and are awaiting approval and (d) have been approved since 1 April 1996.

Sarah Boyack: The information requested is given in the following table :

  


AUTHORITY 


LOCAL PLAN TITLE 


IN PREPARATION 
  


AT CONSULTATION 
  


AWAITING ADOPTION 
  


ADOPTED SINCE 
  1/4/99 




Fife 
  

Dunfermline and the Coast 
  
 
 

* 
  
 


 

West Villages 
  
 

* 
  
 
 


 

Cupar and Howe of Fife 
  
 

* 
  
 
 



N. Ayrshire 
  

Irvine/Kilwinning 
  
 

* 
  
 
 


 

Garnock Valley 
  
 

* 
  
 
 



E. Ayrshire 
  

East Ayrshire 
  
 

* 
  
 
 



S. Ayrshire. 
  

South Ayrshire 
  

* 
  
 
 
 



Inverclyde 
  

Inverclyde 
  
 

* 
  
 
 



N Lanarkshire 
  

Northern Corridor 
  
 

* 
  
 
 


 

Southern Area 
  
 
 

* 
  
 



S Lanarkshire 
  

Cambuslang/
Rutherglen 
  

* 
  
 
 
 


 

Lower Clydesdale 
  
 

* 
  
 
 


 

Hamilton District 
  
 
 

* 
  
 



E Renfrewshire 
  

East Renfrewshire 
  

* 
  
 
 
 



Western Isles 
  

Broadbay 
  
 

* 
  
 
 


 

Uist and Benbecula 
  
 

* 
  
 
 



Highland 
  

South and East Sutherland 
  
 

* 
  
 
 


 

Loch Broom 
  
 
 
 

* 
  


 

Nairnshire 
  
 

* 
  
 
 


 

Inverness Area 
  

* 
  
 
 
 



Aberdeen City 
  

Aberdeen City 
  
 

* 
  
 
 



Aberdeenshire 
  

Consolidated Aberdeenshire 
  
 
 

* 
  
 



Angus 
  

Angus 
  
 
 

* 
  
 



Scottish Borders 
  

Minerals (Subject Plan) 
  
 

* 
  
 
 



Stirling 
  

Stirling District 
  
 
 

* 
  
 


 

Loch Lomond 
  
 
 

* 
  
 



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

Wigtown 
  

* 
  
 
 
 


 

Stewartry 
  

* 
  
 
 
 


 

Nithsdale 
  

* 
  
 
 
 


 

Annandale/Eskdale 
  

* 
  
 
 
 



Falkirk 
  

Falkirk – 1st Review 
  
 
 

* 
  
 


 

Polmont & District – 2nd 
  Review 
  
 

* 
  
 
 



City Of Edinburgh 
  

Rural West 
  
 
 

* 
  
 



East Lothian 
  

East Lothian 
  
 
 

* 
  
 



Midlothian 
  

Midlothian 
  
 

* 
  
 
 



Moray 
  

Moray 2000 
  
 
 

* 
  
 



Perth & Kinross 
  

Highland  
  
 
 

* 
  
 


 

Perth – Alteration 1 (Housing Land) 
  
 
 

* 
  
 


 

Strathearn 
  
 
 

*

Planning

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has vetoed plans to allow wheelchair access to the High Kirk of St Giles, which had previously been approved by City of Edinburgh Council and, if so, how it now proposes to address the situation of one of Scotland’s most important religious buildings having no wheelchair access.

Sarah Boyack: Following a public local inquiry, the Scottish Ministers accepted the Reporter’s recommendation that a planning application for wheelchair access to the High Kirk of St Giles be refused. This decision was intimated in the Scottish Executive Development Department’s letter of 10 September 1999. It is open to the applicants to come forward with acceptable alternative proposals for wheelchair access.

  Significantly, Disability Scotland, which aims to be the national voice of the disabled movement in Scotland, are also in favour of an alternative point of access. In their view, alternative means of providing access for disabled people, most notably at the north door, would be reasonable access and would also provide a sociably acceptable, independent point of access into the cathedral, as well as being more acceptable in planning terms.

Planning

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to amend the planning system following consideration of the responses to the consultation paper Land Use Planning under a Scottish Parliament .

Sarah Boyack: It is clear from the responses to the consultation paper on Land Use Planning under a Scottish Parliament that while there is no major public outcry for massive change to the main elements of the planning system, there is equally no room for complacency about the effectiveness of the system. The overwhelming conclusion I draw is that priority should be given to make the system work better than it does at present.

  The main criticisms are that it is too slow, too bureaucratic and too negative. Those views were aired in the responses to the consultation paper and have come from a number of other quarters in recent months. In particular, from the construction industry, the retail sector and the financial sector in the Pathfinders to Parliament report where the need for greater vision in planning and speeding up planning decisions was strongly highlighted. Some of the criticisms are justified and we need to address them.

  The basic components of the system are in place but they need to work more efficiently and effectively. I should make it clear that, while I do not intend to disturb the arrangements for structure and local plans, that does not mean that I will turn a deaf ear to credible alternative proposals. But they must go beyond aims and aspirations. They must command widespread support and they must be workable.

  We need to change the perception of planning and the performance of the system and I propose to address this. As Planning Minister I intend to play my part in ensuring that the Scottish Executive plays a full part in re-energising the planning system

  Local authorities have a key responsibility too. So do others, including the private sector and the key agencies who need to be more active in the process at an early stage. It seems to me that the development industry uses up too much energy opposing policies in development plans rather than constructively contributing to policy development at an early stage to ensure that policies are right first time. I urge the private sector and local authorities to work in partnership to create long-term development frameworks. It is a process in which local communities should also be fully involved. We need to work together.

  I want planning to be positive. I want it to be seen as a service and activity that is recognised as much for its enabling role as for its regulatory function. It needs to earn that recognition by demonstrating not just Best Value but added value.

  I am today announcing new measures at the annual conference of the Scottish branch of the Royal Town Planning Institute. I have placed copies of my speech in SPICe but the following is a summary of the main changes I am introducing:

  new arrangements for preparing National Planning Policy Guidelines (NPPGs), to ensure more openness, transparency and inclusion. As part of the new approach, we will announce our intention to prepare or revise NPPGs in advance.

  our immediate priority is to start by revising NPPG1 on the planning system and NPPG6 on renewable

  energy;

  action to reduce the 12 month target for Scottish Ministers to approve structure plans;

  the need for clearer long-term vision in structure plans;

  that I am looking at introducing timetables for local and structure plan preparation etc;

  that the focus of the Planning Audit Unit’s work with councils will move to development planning;

  the production, jointly with COSLA, of a training manual and code of conduct for councillors; and

  our intention to prepare an "easy read" guide to the planning system.

  I believe that these measures when taken together will, over time, help to make the system work better. I look to others, however, to play their part as well. I will be keeping a close eye on developments and will act if I do not see appropriate improvements.

Prison Service

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans for the creation or use of any privately owned and operated prisons in Scotland other than Kilmarnock.

Mr Jim Wallace: There are currently no plans.

Rural Affairs

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all Scottish legislation and UK legislation as it effects Scotland, both primary and secondary, which has already been amended or will require amendment as a result of the coming into force of the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order (SI 1999/1126); when such amendments, if any, were made and when it proposes to make any future amendments, and what assessment it has made of the implications of such amendments.

Mr John Home Robertson: Some UK legislation was amended to take account of the creation by the Scotland Act 1998 of the Scottish zone of British fishery limits, the boundary of which zone is defined by the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999 (SI 1999/1126). The purpose of the amendments was to ensure that certain Ministerial functions transferred to the Scottish Ministers so far as exercisable in relation to the Scottish zone and to make provision consequential on the transfer of those functions.

  Legislation affecting food safety, sea fishing and marine pollution have all been amended to take account of the Scottish zone. This legislation is set out in detail in two Orders: The Scotland Act 1998 (Modifications of Functions) Order 1999 (SI 1999/1756), and The Scotland Act 1998 (Consequential Modifications) (No.2) Order 1999 (SI 1999/1820).

  I am not aware at present of any plans to amend other legislation.

Sport

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the proposals for community ownership of professional football clubs set out in the pamphlet New Mutualism – A Golden Goal by the Co-operative Party and, if so, what measures it will take to promote community ownership.

Rhona Brankin: Professional football clubs are private commercial organisations and decisions about their business operations are a matter for them. That said, I am interested in the new models of club ownership described in the pamphlet. I intend to explore with the SFA and the other football authorities what role, if any, the Scottish Parliament and Executive might play in encouraging increased supporter participation in the running of football clubs.

Transport

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support plans to establish a passenger and freight rail link to Glasgow Airport in order to reduce road congestion in the Greater Glasgow area.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive intends to deliver a sustainable, effective and integrated transport system. We support in principle cost-effective measures to reduce road congestion, encourage greater use of rail transport and improve inter-modal links.

  I understand Railtrack is currently working with Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive to assess three options for providing a rail link from Glasgow Airport to Paisley and central Glasgow.

Transport

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is prepared in principle to allow a consortium of private interests to construct the M74 link considered in the recent Strategic Roads Review, and whether it would allow Scottish Enterprise to assist in funding the M74 link from its own annual budgets.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: When Sarah Boyack announced the conclusions of the Strategic Roads Review, she indicated that the M74 Northern Extension would be promoted by the City of Glasgow and South Lanarkshire Councils. It is for these Councils to develop proposals for the procurement and funding of the scheme.

Transport

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from Ayrshire local authorities regarding concerns over the lack of detailed information available about funding for the recently announced new stretch of the M77.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: The Scottish Executive has received one representation, from South Ayrshire Council, seeking clarification on the funding arrangements for the new stretch of the M77.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliamentary Accommodation

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Presiding Officer whether he is satisfied that the proposed arrangements for accommodation in the Holyrood buildings of MSPs’ staff and party staff will be sufficiently flexible to enable MSPs to work efficiently.

Sir David Steel: Yes. The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is taking all steps to ensure that the accommodation arrangements for everybody in the Holyrood Building will enable them to work efficiently and effectively. I will be reporting further to MSPs very shortly.